neuroBIBLISTICS

St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Indianapolis, IN

Date:
May 8, 2022

Mother’s Day Lecture on Psalms.

Most of the Scriptures speak to us, while Psalms speak for us.

St. Athanasius the Great

The Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and the New Testament are indeed the Word of God, which is a great mystery. The second person of the Holy Trinity – Our Lord Jesus Christ is called “the Word of God.” This truth permeates the lives of Orthodox Christians, and even pierces them. No one is indifferent toward these words, which are means of change for the better. Supremely, the Word of God is flowing, active, and living for Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), true Son of God the Father, in the Holy Spirit.  

The book of Psalms is the unique part of the Holy Scriptures that in the words of St. Athanasius the Great “speak for us”. Not only that Psalms speak for us, but they ignite the change and recover our dignity – that we are created “a little lower than God” (Ps 8:5), in the Image and Likeness of God. Thus, reciting Psalms with the heart and not only the lips transforms the words into actions, and people become aware of God and His power. When these powerful words enter the soul of the faithful, they perform a “God-like” change which is the expelling of the darkness of sin. Word of God is declaring what is God’s (John 14:26) and re-enactment of the word of God is a manifestation of God-like people. 

Often, when God seems difficult to find, Psalms restore hope and ignite the real relationship with God. When we do not have words, when speechless, Psalms speak on our behalf. They help us recognize our fallen state disguised as depression and anxiety and help us pull ourselves together: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?                    Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Ps 42:5–6). Psalms make us think, which is crucial in our turbulent times (Ps. 2), and they encourage us to praise God as a whole, complete God-like beings. Praising God is the initial dignity of worshiping man, created in the garden of Eden. Worshiping man is one who is in communion with God and  

Psalms are to be read with knowledge and sensitivity that transformation will happen. St. Sava, the first Serbian Archbishop left a pledge for all of us “May the Psalter never cease, but let it be read daily, in its entirety.” Since these words were proclaimed, Psalter was read every day in the Serbian monastery Hilandar on the Holy Mount Athos in its entirety. Today we ask each other who can read psalms daily and how powerful this practice is? 

If you feel rage or pain, if you are depressed or anxious; or if you are grateful and cheerful read psalms for, they have the words able to express inexpressible. “Every Psalm is a voice of the Church”, as St. Gregory the Theologian said. Voices are to be heard, and the Church as the loving communion of God and His people “Shows the way we should go” (Psalm 143:8). This way is the way of “entrusting our lives” to Christ Who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6).